Firebug030
11-20-2002, 09:48 AM
Nov 15, 2002
Sinkhole Swallows Barn, Pair of Horses
The Associated Press
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - A sinkhole destroyed a barn, caused the death of one horse and threatened to drown another before rescue officials saved the animal. Bob Bonwit had returned home from his nursing job Thursday night and was walking to his barn to feed carrots to his horses - but a 50-foot-wide, 30-foot-deep sinkhole had engulfed the barn. "I nearly stepped into it," Bonwit said. "The whole world was wrong." The horses were at the bottom of the pit, which was filling rapidly with groundwater. By the time Seminole County sheriff's officials and other fire-rescue personnel had arrived, the older horse, Jack, 17, had drowned. The other horse, 13-year-old Magic, was perched atop the dead horse, barely keeping its nose above water. Efforts to save Magic were ongoing early Friday. Rescue workers were able to place a harness around Magic's body and were preparing to guide him out of the hole, officials said. Bonwit's house is close to the sinkhole, but authorities could not say if that structure was in danger. Sanford is 19 miles north of Orlando. AP-ES-11-15-02 0503EST
This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGA0AC6YJ8D.html
Sinkhole Swallows Barn, Pair of Horses
The Associated Press
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - A sinkhole destroyed a barn, caused the death of one horse and threatened to drown another before rescue officials saved the animal. Bob Bonwit had returned home from his nursing job Thursday night and was walking to his barn to feed carrots to his horses - but a 50-foot-wide, 30-foot-deep sinkhole had engulfed the barn. "I nearly stepped into it," Bonwit said. "The whole world was wrong." The horses were at the bottom of the pit, which was filling rapidly with groundwater. By the time Seminole County sheriff's officials and other fire-rescue personnel had arrived, the older horse, Jack, 17, had drowned. The other horse, 13-year-old Magic, was perched atop the dead horse, barely keeping its nose above water. Efforts to save Magic were ongoing early Friday. Rescue workers were able to place a harness around Magic's body and were preparing to guide him out of the hole, officials said. Bonwit's house is close to the sinkhole, but authorities could not say if that structure was in danger. Sanford is 19 miles north of Orlando. AP-ES-11-15-02 0503EST
This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGA0AC6YJ8D.html